The Very Best Brioche Recipe The Suburban Soapbox from thesuburbansoapbox.com
Introduction
Brioche is a French pastry that is made with a rich and buttery dough. It is a versatile pastry that can be enjoyed plain or filled with various ingredients. Making brioche from scratch may seem intimidating, but with this recipe, you'll be able to make a delicious and fluffy brioche with ease.
Ingredients
For this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
1 cup warm milk
2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
1/3 cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 tsp salt
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature and cubed
Optional Ingredients
Egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp water)
Pearl sugar or granulated sugar for topping
Instructions
Step 1: Proof the Yeast
In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk, active dry yeast, and granulated sugar. Mix them together until the yeast and sugar are dissolved. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes until the yeast starts to activate and the mixture becomes frothy.
Step 2: Add the Eggs and Salt
Once the yeast mixture is frothy, add in the room temperature eggs and salt. Mix the ingredients together until they are well combined.
Step 3: Add the Flour
Gradually add in the all-purpose flour, 1 cup at a time. Mix the flour into the mixture until it forms a sticky dough.
Step 4: Add the Butter
Add in the cubed unsalted butter, a few pieces at a time, while continuing to mix the dough. Mix the dough for about 10-15 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
Step 5: Let the Dough Rise
Cover the mixing bowl with a towel and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
Step 6: Shape the Dough
Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and shape it into the desired brioche shape. You can either bake it in a loaf pan or shape it into individual brioche buns.
Step 7: Let the Dough Rise Again
Cover the shaped dough with a towel and let it rise in a warm place for another 45 minutes to an hour, or until it has doubled in size.
Step 8: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Step 9: Optional Egg Wash and Topping
If desired, you can brush the brioche with an egg wash and sprinkle some pearl sugar or granulated sugar on top.
Step 10: Bake
Bake the brioche in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until it is golden brown on top.
Nutrition
This brioche recipe yields about 12 servings. Each serving is approximately 320 calories, 20g fat, 32g carbohydrates, and 5g protein.
Tips and Variations
You can add in various ingredients to the dough, such as raisins or chocolate chips, to create different flavors of brioche.
If you don't have unsalted butter, you can use salted butter but reduce the amount of added salt.
If you don't have a warm place to let the dough rise, you can heat your oven to 200°F (93°C), turn it off, and then place the covered bowl of dough in the oven to rise.
If you're short on time, you can let the dough rise in the refrigerator overnight and then shape and bake it in the morning.
Conclusion
Now that you have the recipe for delicious brioche, you can impress your friends and family with your baking skills. With its rich and buttery flavor, brioche is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a snack. Try out this recipe and enjoy your freshly baked brioche!
